Give your exteriors a facelift with siding - vinyl,
fiber cement or metal?
Up the wall? That's siding for you.
Siding is the finish covering that is installed on the exterior of
your home. It comes in a wide variety of materials, styles and colors and can
dramatically increase the value and appearance of your home for years to come.
Vinyl Siding
For ease of maintenance and unparalleled performance, vinyl siding is the most
popular choice on the market today. Unlike wood and metal siding, vinyl can
easily withstand the changing seasons as well as the normal wear and tear that
comes with age; and still look newly installed.
Vinyl siding offers many choices when it comes to color and style. Styles
include board n' batten (barn), wood grain and matte finishes. Because the color
in vinyl siding is permanent and perforates through the entire panel, you will
never need to paint your home again. Your new siding will easily resist fading
and scratches for a number of years and will never peel.
Made from polyvinyl chloride, or "PVC" as it is more commonly known, vinyl
siding is impact resistant and will not succumb to termites, moisture or rot.
However, vinyl siding can burn or warp if exposed to a high temperature such as
an open flame or a BBQ.
Maintenance with vinyl siding is virtually non-existent. You can easily wash off
dust, soil and cob webs with a garden hose once a year and remove most stains
with standard household cleaners and a wash rag.
Vinyl Siding is manufactured by companies such as Certainteed Corporation,
Heartland Building Products, Alcoa and Owens Corning. You can complete your new
vinyl siding project with coordinating accessories, custom windows and door
casings.
Fiber Cement Siding
The second most popular choice on the market today, fiber cement siding is a
composite material made of silica, water and other ingredients.
Available in a variety of styles including wood grain and stucco patterns, fiber
cement siding can be painted in any color of your choice. It is an economical
alternative to old wood siding and is resistant to fire, weather, cracking and
rotting.
Fiber cement is manufactured under the Weatherboards brand by Certainteed
Corporation and as HardiPlank by James Hardie Building Products.
Metal Siding
Aluminum and steel siding are the most common metal siding materials used. Metal
siding is not as widely used or manufactured as vinyl or fiber cement and
requires more maintenance, including painting. Consequently, metal siding is
prone to denting and peeling.
Like other siding materials, metal siding is available in a variety of colors
and styles including the popular "log cabin" siding.
About The Author
James Skinner is co-founder and chief operating
officer of OnlineSiding.com, a website dedicated to providing home
owners with free access to siding, window and financing information as
well as local, qualified contractors. Learn more by visiting the website
at www.onlinesiding.com.
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